Lifo storage device which is used to receive and dispense coins or tokens

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a LiFO storage device which is used to receive and dispense coins or tokens. The inventive device comprises at least one tube ( 1 ), an upper opening ( 2 ) which is disposed in the aforementioned tube ( 1 ), an inlet conduit ( 3 ), a movable support ( 4 ), actuation means and release means. The invention is characterised in that at least two of the above-mentioned tubes ( 1 ) form a tube assembly ( 1 ) which is arranged around a screw ( 6 ). The invention is further characterised in that it also comprises: respective movable supports ( 4 ) inside the tubes ( 1 ), which are connected to a nut ( 5 ) and screw ( 7 ) mechanism; a support ( 7 ); and actuation means.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a large capacity LIFO storage devicewhich is used to receive or collect and dispense coins or tokens. Thedevice comprises a plurality of storage tubes for the same kind of coinsor tokens, and means for introducing or removing coins or tokenssequentially into/from each of said tubes.

The device according to the invention is particularly, but notexclusively, applicable to vending machines that operate with coins ortokens and that are able to return change.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

Different coins or tokens storage devices are well known that are fittedwith mechanisms adapted for receiving and dispensing coins or tokens,and which are applied, for example, to vending machines. One of thesystems used includes storage boxes where the coins or tokens aredisorganised, and where specific coin or token removal means areprovide. There are two other main logistics concepts for this type ofdevice: FIFO logistics (term derived from the English expression “firstin first out”, where the first element to reach storage is the first toexit, and LIFO logistics (term derived from the English expression “lastin first out”, where the last element to reach storage is the first toexit. In the case of coins or tokens are usually stored in verticaltubular elements, or elements that are slightly tilted with respect tothe vertical, where FIFO logistics imply that coins or tokens enter intothe corresponding storage tube through one of the ends thereof, or inletend, and exit from the other end, or exit end, while LIFO logisticsimply that coins or tokens enter and exit the corresponding tube at thesame inlet and exit end. In a FIFO system, the upper end of the tube isusually used as the inlet end, and the lower end of the tube is used asthe exit end so as to avail of a natural gravitational downward flow ofcoins or tokens. With a LIFO system, on the other hand, either the inletor exit flow of coins works against gravity and needs the assistance ofa mechanical drive.

However, in vending machines or the like that operate with coins ortokens and are capable of returning change, using storage, collectionand return devices with LIFO logistics has certain advantages. First ofall, these machines allow the coin insertion groove and the changecollection box to be a short distance apart, which is an advantage fromthe point of view of ergonomics. On the other hand, the LIFO systemmakes it unnecessary to incorporate an anti-fraud device, known in thetechnical sector as “scrow”, which is provided, for example, to preventanyone from trying to change false coins for genuine ones by insertingone or more false coins and immediately cancelling the operation,therefore causing the device to return the collected total. In the LIFOsystem, the same false coins are returned by the system's own logistics.

In the state of the art, storage devices are known that are adapted toreceive and dispense coins or tokens using LIFO logistics.

Patent EP-A-0173119 (and its equivalent U.S. Pat. No. 4,687,084)describes a device that is used to store coins and give change, whichcomprises a coin storage tube inside which the coins are stacked. Thesaid tube has an upper inlet and exit opening and a mobile interiorsupport to support and move the stack of coins up and down inside thetube. The mobile support is driven by a motor and a rack and pinionmechanism, where the rack is made up of an axial rod connected to themobile support that projects from the lower end of the tube. When thestack is moved downwards space is provided near said upper open end toadmit new coins or tokens, and when the stack is moved upwards, the topcoin or token in the stack is placed outside the tube, in an expulsionposition. In this case, the tube is tilted in relation to the verticalto facilitate the gravitational drop of the coin in said expulsionposition.

Document WO 91/07734 discloses a device which is used to store coins andgive change that consists of a coin stacking tube with an upper inletand exit opening. It includes a mobile support to move the stack ofcoins up or down inside the tube. The mobile support is connected to anut coupled to a spindle that is substantially parallel to the tube, andthe spindle is driven by an electric motor so as to rotate in bothdirections. The connection between the mobile support and the nut isachieved by means of an arm arranged to move along a longitudinal groovein the tube's cylindrical wall. Adjacent to the upper inlet and exit enda transversal thrusting device is provided that is driven by a crankdriven mechanism to expel the coin lying at the top of the pile oncesaid movement means have placed said coin in an expulsion position. Thisdocument provides alternative mechanisms for driving the mobile support,such as a spindle connected to the mobile support in coaxial positionwith respect to the tube and a nut coupled to the spindle underneath thetube and driven by an electric motor or a flexible thrusting rodconnected to the lower part of the mobile support and driven by frictionrollers.

Patent GB-A-2 278 221 describes a device which is used to store coinsand give change, which consists in a coin stacking tube with an upperinlet and exit opening. It comprises means for moving the stack of coinsup and down inside the tube, which include a mobile support locatedinside the tube to support the stack of coins, the mobile support beingconnected to a pair of lateral transmission belts driven by an electricmotor to move the mobile support vertically in both directions. Controlmeans use optical sensors to detect the position of the top coin in thestack when said coin is in the expulsion position just on top of thetube's upper opening, and activate the driving of a transversalthrusting element to expel said top coin from the device.

Patent GB-A-2. 327 795 discloses a device similar to the one describedin said patent GB-A-2 278 221, but in which the said transversalthrusting element is mounted in a unit which moves together with thestack of coins near the expulsion position so as to maintain a suitableposition relationship between the thrusting element and the coin to beexpelled. The thrusting element is driven by an electric motor and arotary cam mechanism. The driving of the mobile support comprises atransmission belt driven by an electric motor for vertically dragging acarriage to which the mobile support is connected by an arm passedthrough a longitudinal groove in the tube.

Patent GB-A-2 369 228 describes a device limited to storing coins andgiving change. The device consists of a coin stacking tube with an upperopen end in a working surface. Means are provided to move the stack ofcoins upwards inside the tube until a desired number of coins projectfrom the working surface, from where they can be removed manually by anoperator. The device includes a control unit with a coin release button.Each time said button is pressed, said movement means are activated toproduce a movement equivalent to the thickness of a coin. As in previousconstructions, the said movement means include a mobile support locatedinside the tube and connected to a nut that is coupled to a spindledriven to rotate in both directions, the nut being joined to the mobilesupport by an arm passed through a longitudinal groove in the tube wall.The tube is reloaded through said upper open end of the tube.

All the documents cited above have in common the arrangement of avertical, or slightly tilted tube for storing stacked coins and a mobilesupport inside the tube for supporting the stack of coins, and drivingmeans for moving the mobile support together with the stack of coins upand down inside the tube. With the arrangement of a single tube, thestorage capacity is limited, and the possibility of increasing saidstorage capacity consists in providing a longer tube. However, a longertube implies increasing the height of the coin insertion groove withrespect to the floor, or the need to include additional mechanisms forlifting the coins to the upper inlet and exit end of the tube. It isimportant to bear in mind that strict regulations are in force regardingthe maximum distances between the coin insertion groove and the changecollection box, and between each of these and the floor for reasons ofergonomics and adaptation for handicapped users. Another possibility forincreasing the storage capacity consists in providing various devicesfor each type of coin, which has the drawback of multiplying the drives,since a mobile support and expulsion mechanism drive is required foreach device, requiring more drives and a more complex electronic controlto link the various devices to a single coin insertion groove and asingle change collection box, and occupying a larger area, which isdifficult to find inside many vending machines and the like.

The objective of this invention is to provide a solution to the abovedrawbacks, providing a LIFO storage device which is used to receive anddispense coins or tokens that has a large storage capacity, is compactand is equipped with a single movement mechanism and a single coin ortoken removal mechanism.

BRIEF EXPOSITION OF THE INVENTION

The preceding objective and others are achieved, according to thepresent invention, by providing a LIFO storage device which is used toreceive and dispense coins or tokens, which includes a plurality ofstorage tubes for coins or tokens of one and the same kind with anindividual movement mechanism for the stack of coins or tokens insideall the tubes and an individual coin or token removal mechanism that iscommon for all tubes.

The LIFO storage device of the present invention comprises variousassociated tubes (at least two) forming a set of tubes arranged inrelation to a spindle. Each tube comprises an upper opening for theinlet and exit of coins or tokens and a mobile support inside the tubefor supporting said stack of coins or tokens. Driving means including anut mechanism joined to said spindle, are adapted to move the mobilesupports together with the respective stacks of coins or tokens up anddown inside said tubes, so as to receive and dispense coins or tokens,respectively. Adjacent to said upper inlet and exit openings of thetubes, a support is arranged in which an inlet conduit and expulsionmeans are mounted. Driving means are adapted to produce a relativemovement between said set of tubes and said support so as place saidtubes sequentially in different relative positions, in each of whichsaid inlet conduit outlet is faced the upper opening of one of the tubesand the expulsion means are faced the upper opening of another of saidtubes.

This arrangement provides a significantly large storage capacity in arelatively reduced space or, more particularly, using tubes with acomparable length to that of the state of the art devices, which, forexample in a vending machine, allows the coin or token insertion grooveand the change collection box to be placed within the range of heightsoff the floor that is recommended by ergonomic standards, with animportant increase in the storage capacity.

In one embodiment example, the spindle is parallel to the tubes, whichare arranged at equal angular intervals around the spindle and at equaldistances with respect to the spindle axis. Each mobile support isconnected to said nut by means of an arm passed through a longitudinalslot on the respective tube, and the nut is operatively coupled to thespindle. The support is arranged to rotate vis-à-vis a coaxial axis withthe spindle and said driving means are adapted to make the supportrotate in both directions and place it sequentially in different angularpositions in relation to the set of tubes, said angular positionscorresponding to the different relative positions mentioned above. Saidexpulsion means comprise an upper end stop element mounted and guided tomove freely with respect to the support in a direction parallel to thetube axis, in order to make contact with the upper coin or token in thecorresponding stack or with part of the edge of the upper opening. Tosaid upper end stop element at least one expulsion element is attachedthat is driven in a transversal direction vis-à-vis the stack of coinsor tokens, dragging the top coin or token in the stack. This expulsionelement projects underneath the upper end stop element a length that isless than the thickness of the coins or tokens.

The device includes means for lifting the upper end stop element withrespect to the support and then letting it fall onto the top coin ortoken in the following stack in passing from one angular position to thenext angular position, and each tube includes an extendible upperportion that can be moved coaxially with respect to the tube without thepossibility of rotating and without affecting the stack of coins ortokens inside the tube. Each extendible upper portion has a projectioncoupled to a guide groove in the support at a suitable height formaintaining the extendible upper portion in a maximum extended position.Also, said projection can be coupled to another guide groove associatedwith the upper end stop element when said upper end stop element is in amaximum lift position and rotates between one angular position and thefollowing angular position. This way, the movements of the extendibleupper portion of the tube from which a coin is going to be expelled, arelinked to the movements of the upper end stop element.

In each extendible upper portion said upper inlet and exit opening isdefined and comprises an exit notch on one edge of said upper openingsufficiently sized to allow one coin or token to pass through edgeways.The said means for lifting and then letting the upper end stop elementdrop with respect to the support, comprise a cam surface arrangedperimetrally around the set of tubes, which defines a series of lowportions in angular positions corresponding to each tube and anelevation between each angular position corresponding to a tube and theangular position corresponding to the following tube. The upper end stopelement has an associated cam follower that can rest in a sliding orrolling manner on said cam surface, so that the upper end stop elementexperiences a lifting movement between each angular positioncorresponding to one tube and the angular position corresponding to thefollowing tube, where it is detached from the projection of theextendible upper portion of one tube and coupled to the projection ofthe extendible upper portion of the following tube. The descendingmovement of the upper end stop element with respect to the support canbe gravitational or it can be driven by the force of an elastic elementloaded during the upward movement thereof.

Advantageously, said rotary drive means are arranged to make the spindleand the support rotate in unison selectively in one or other rotationdirection, and the thread pitch of the spindle is selected such that thenut, in a complete turn, produces a movement equal to the thickness of acoin or token. The driving action of the expulsion element can beproduced by dedicated driving means that comprise, for example, anelectromagnet, or it can be advantageously linked to said rotary drivemeans for the support and spindle. In this second case, the expulsionelement comprises at least one thrusting tab attached to the upper endstop element and arranged to make contact on one side of the edge of thetop coin or token in the stack when the mobile support rotates, andpress the top coin or token against an oblique stationery surface on theopposite side to make it slide through said outlet notch.

In this way, a single drive motor is used to drive all the mechanisms ina co-ordinated manner, which simplifies control and ensures highreliability and precision at a relatively low cost.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above characteristics, as well as others and advantages will be moreobvious from the following detailed description of embodiment examples,with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment example of theLIFO storage device which is used to receive and dispense coins ortokens according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the support, upper end stop andextendible upper portions of the device in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an upper plane view of the device in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view along the plane IV-IV in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view along the plane V-V in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment example ofthe LIFO storage device which is used to receive and dispense coins ortokens according to this invention,

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the device in FIG. 6 assembled;

FIG. 8 is an elevation perspective view, of a single part body insidewhich the walls of the said tubes are formed;

FIG. 9 is a view from below of the FIG. 8, and

FIG. 10 is an elevation view of a single-part body placed between thecoin inlet and the upper opening of the tubes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENT EXAMPLES

First of all, FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of an embodiment example ofthe LIFO device which is used to receive and dispense coins or tokensaccording to this invention, which comprises a plurality of tubes 1,showing six of them in the illustrated example, but equally there couldbe at least two or more than six, arranged to store coins or tokensstacked inside them. Each of the tubes 1 includes an extendible upperportion 1 a that can be moved coaxially with respect to tube 1 withoutthe possibility of rotating and without affecting the stack of coins ortokens inside tube 1, and each extendible upper portion 1 a has an upperinlet/outlet opening 2 where the coins or tokens are introduced into orremoved from the tubes 1. For said axial movement without thepossibility of rotation to be possible, next to the lower edge of eachextendible upper portion 1 a there is a series of parallel longitudinalgrooves between which fingers 22 are defined that are housed in asliding manner in corresponding parallel longitudinal grooves, formed inthe upper end of the corresponding stationery portion of tube 1.

Tubes 1 are attached to a base part 23 that keeps them associated to oneanother forming a set of tubes 1 arranged at equal angular intervalsaround a spindle 6 that is parallel to tubes 1, and at equal distancesfrom the axis of spindle 6. Inside each tube 1 a mobile support 4 isslidingly arranged, which acts as a support for the corresponding stackof coins or tokens and as an element for moving said stack within thetube, and each mobile support 4 is connected to a nut 5 coupled tospindle 6 by means of an arm 4 a passed through a longitudinal slot 1 bin the respective tube 1, and nut 5 is coupled to spindle 6. In theillustrated example, mobile supports 4 have a lower projection 24 whichinserts into a ring 25 joined to the end of each arm 4 a.

In the top part of the set of tubes 1, above said base piece 23, asupport 7 is arranged (best shown in FIG. 2) in which a coin or tokeninlet conduit 3 and coin or token expulsion means 8, 9 are mounted. Saidsupport 7 is connected integrally to spindle 6, for example by means ofa pin 26, and driving means are provided for producing a relativerotational movement between said set of tubes 1, and said support 7 soas to place said tubes sequentially in different relative positions.Typically, the set of tubes 1 and base part 23 remain stationery whilethe spindle and mobile support are driven by said driving means torotate in both directions and place the support 7 sequentially indifferent angular positions with respect to the set of tubes 1corresponding to the said different relative positions. In each of saidangular positions an outlet of said inlet conduit 3 lies faced the upperopening 2 of one of the tubes 1, and the expulsion means 8, 9 lie facedthe upper opening 2 of another of said tubes 1.

Now also with reference to FIG. 2, expulsion means 8, 9 comprise anupper end stop element 8 guided to move freely with respect to support 7in a direction parallel to the axis of tube 1 to make contact with thetop coin or token in the corresponding stack, and at least one expulsionelement 9 linked to said upper end stop element 8. The upper end stopelement 8 is joined to an outer portion 8 a where a coin or token outletwindow 27 is defined. On the sides of said outer portion 8 a ribs 28 areformed that insert into guide grooves 29 formed vertically in support 7to guide the movement of upper end stop element 8.

Said expulsion element 9 is driven so that it moves in a transversedirection to the stack of coins or tokens, dragging the top coin ortoken in the stack. In the embodiment example illustrated in FIGS. 1 to5, expulsion element 9 is joined to upper end stop element 8 andprojects underneath for a length that is less than the thickness of thecoins or tokens, and the driving of the upper end stop 8 is linked tosaid rotary driving means of support 7 and spindle 6. In the illustratedexample, expulsion element 9 comprises a pair of thrust tabs 21 arrangedso as to make contact on one side of the edge of the top coin or tokenin the stack when mobile support 7 rotates in a particular rotationdirection, to press the top coin or token against an oblique stationerysurface 19 on the opposite side of one edge of upper opening 2 ofextendible upper portion 1 a of tube 1 to make it slide through an exitslot 2 a provided on said edge, where a pair of notches 2 b are alsoformed from side to side to allow the passage of said thrust tabs 21.So, each time the driving means cause support 7 and spindle 6 to rotatein the determined rotation direction, thrust tabs 21 expel the coin.Also, the thread on spindle 6 is such that nut 5, in one complete turn,produces a movement that is equal to the thickness of a coin or token soas to again place the following top coin in the stack in an expulsionposition.

In order to ensure a correct position relationship between expulsionelement 9 and the top coin in the stack, which is going to be expelled,means are provided for lifting upper end stop element 8 and then lettingit drop with respect to support 7 in passing from one angular positionto the following angular position. Said means comprise a cam surface 13formed on base part 23 and arranged perimetrally around the set of tubes1 and a cam follower 14 connected to outer portion 8 a of upper end stopelement 8. Cam 13 defines an elevation 13 a between each angularposition corresponding to one tube 1 and the angular positioncorresponding to the following tube 1. Since upper end stop element 8can move vertically with respect to support 7, cam follower 14, whichrests in a sliding or rolling manner on said cam surface 13, produces alifting action and subsequent descent of upper end stop element 8 eachtime said element passes from one angular position to the next. Thedownward movement of upper end stop element 8 with respect to support 7is advantageously gravitational, although equally it could be driven,for example, by the force of an elastic element (not shown) that isloaded during the upwards movement. What is important is that there isno forced link between cam follower 14 and cam 13 in the downwardsmovements, which allows upper end stop element 8 to be disposed on thetop coin in the stack and interrupt its fall, therefore achieving asuitable relative position between expulsion element 9 and the coin tobe expelled irrespective of the variations in the height of the stackowing to the coin manufacturing tolerances, dirt stuck to the coins orother factors.

Each extendible upper portion 1 a has a projection 10 (FIG. 1) attachedto a guide groove 11 in support 7 at a suitable height for keepingextendible upper portion 1 a in a maximum extended position. Saidprojection 10 can also be attached to another guide groove 12 (FIG. 5)formed in outer portion 8 a of upper end stop element 8 when said upperend stop element 8 is in a maximum elevation position between oneangular position and the following angular position. This way, themovements of extendible upper portion 1 a are linked to the movements ofupper end stop element 8.

FIG. 4 shows the outlet of inlet conduit 3 faced the upper opening ofextendible upper portion 1 a of a tube 1, while FIG. 5 shows upper endstop element 8 in a low position of cam 13, keeping the correspondingextendible upper portion 1 a in said low position.

The rotary driving means include an electric motor 15 with an outputshaft connected to support 7 by means of a transmission, which in theembodiment example shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, comprises a flexibletransmission element, such as a belt 16 or chain, arranged between adriving pulley 17 attached to the output shaft of the motor and a drivenpulley 18 attached to support 7 coaxially with respect to spindle 6. Asshown in FIGS. 4 and 5, said driven pulley 18 comprises a centralpassage 3 a through which said coin or token inlet conduit 3 isinstalled, so that a central section thereof does not move during therotation of support 7, while an end opening of a tilted section 3 b,which extends downwards and outwards from said central section, can liefaced upper opening 2 of each tube 1 in the different angular positions.

In an alternative embodiment example, not shown, said transmissionincludes a direct or indirect gear between a toothed driving wheelattached to the output shaft of the motor and a toothed driven wheelattached to support 7 coaxially with respect to spindle 6, said tootheddriven wheel also including a central passage for said coin or tokeninlet conduit 3 to extend into a section 3 b that tilts downwards andoutwards ending in an opening lying faced upper opening 2 of each tube 1in the different angular positions.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show another embodiment example of the device of thisinvention, which includes driving means dedicated to said driving actionof expulsion element 9. Otherwise, the construction of this secondembodiment example is very similar to that of the embodiment exampledescribed with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5, and therefore its descriptionis omitted.

In FIGS. 6 and 7, expulsion element 9 is joined below to upper end stopelement 8, which is a separate part from outer portion 8 a and is guidedinto outer portion 8 a so as to move in a substantially radial directionwith respect to the axis of spindle 6. Said dedicated driving meanscomprise an electromagnet 20 connected to upper end stop element 8 bymeans of a lever mechanism 30 so as to move the top coin or token in thestack through said outlet notch 2 a.

Advantageously, each tube 1 is made up of various modular sectionsprovided with releasable joining means that make it possible to adaptthe coin or token storage capacity by adding or removing modularsections according to the particular application, and it can includeconventional means for detecting the passage of incoming and/or exitingcoins or tokens, which are connected to a meter.

As illustrated in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10, different parts of this device canbe manufactured using single part bodies. This permits variousadvantages, particularly in manufacturing, since these bodies can beproduced by injection and made to be very resistant, at a fairly reducedmanufacturing cost.

So, as for body 30 (FIGS. 8 and 9), the walls of said tubes 1 and therespective slots 1 b are formed inside it, and since it is modular, thelength of said tubes 1 can be selected. It order to apply said modularoption, the releasable joining means 33 must be joined, i.e.: lugs 33 b(FIG. 8) must be inserted into orifices 33 c (FIG. 9) of the single partbody 30 immediately above.

Said body 30 is made up of one part, that is, it can be a single part orit can be formed by joining various parts (not illustrated in thedrawings) and for example, assembling them.

With respect to body 31 (FIG. 10), which is a single part in thisembodiment, it includes the coin or token inlet conduit 3, with asection 3 b tilted downwards and outwards, ending in an opening lyingfaced to the upper opening of each tube in the different angularpositions.

Also said tilted section 3 b adopts a spiral configuration, with anupper reinforcement 32 at the end of its projection, in this embodimentreinforcement 32 is vertical. Owing to said reinforcement 32 and thespiral configuration, there is no need to ensure that the coin fallsinto inlet conduit 3, because the coin always reaches the upper openingin an operational manner, because if the coin reaches the end of thetilted section 3 b edgeways, reinforcement 32 will push it down so thatit is in an operative position.

Also, thanks to the actual spiral configuration, during this tiltedsection, through inertia, the coin is placed in an operative positionwhen it reaches the end of the tilted section.

The embodiment examples described above are purely illustrative and donot limit the invention, and a person skilled in the art will be able tointroduce variations and modifications without departing from saidscope, which is defined in the attached claims.

1-32. (canceled)
 33. LIFO storage device used to receive and dispensecoins or tokens, of the type comprising: at least one tube for storingcoins or tokens arranged to form a stack; an upper opening in said tubefor the entry and exit of coins or tokens; an inlet conduit for coins ortokens with an outlet faced said upper opening; a mobile support insidetube to support said stack of coins or tokens; driving means thatinclude a nut and spindle mechanism for moving mobile support togetherwith the stack of coins or tokens up and down inside said tube in orderto receive and dispense coins or tokens, respectively; and expulsionmeans driven to expel the top coin in the stack, adjacent to upperopening of tube, towards an outlet, characterised in that it comprises:at least two of said tubes forming a set of tubes arranged in relationto spindle; respective mobile supports inside tubes and connected tosaid nut and spindle mechanism; a support in which said inlet conduitand said expulsion means are mounted; and driving means for producing arelative movement between said set of tubes an said support which placessaid tubes sequentially in different relative positions, in each ofwhich said outlet of inlet conduit lies faced upper opening of one oftubes, of which there are at least two, and the expulsion means liefaced upper opening of another of said tubes.
 34. Device according toclaim 33, characterised in that spindle is parallel to tubes.
 35. Deviceaccording to claim 34, characterised in that said tubes are arranged atequal angular intervals around spindle and at equal distances from theaxis of spindle.
 36. Device according to claim 35, characterised in thatthe walls of said tubes and the respective slots, of which there are atleast two, are formed by means of at least one body, made up of at leastone part.
 37. Device according to claim 36, characterised in that eachmobile support is connected to said nut by means of an arm passedthrough a longitudinal slot of the respective tube, and nut is coupledto spindle.
 38. Device according to claim 37, characterised in that saidsupport is arranged to rotate in relation to a coaxial axis with spindleand said driving means are adapted to rotate support in both directionsand place it sequentially in different angular positions in relation tothe set of tubes corresponding to said different relative positions. 39.Device according to claim 38, characterised in that said expulsion meanscomprise an upper end stop element guided to move freely with respect tosupport in a direction parallel to the axis of tube in order to makecontact with the top coin or token in the corresponding stack or withpart of the edge of upper opening, and at least one expulsion elementlinked to said upper end stop element.
 40. Device according to claim 39,characterised in that said expulsion element is driven to move in atransverse direction to the stack of coins or tokens, dragging the topcoin or token in the stack.
 41. Device according to claim 40,characterised in that said expulsion element is linked to upper end stopelement and projects underneath it for a length that is less than thethickness of the coins or tokens.
 42. Device according to claim 41,characterised in that it includes means for lifting upper end stopelement with respect to support and then letting it drop onto the topcoin or token in the following stack in passing from one angularposition to the following angular position.
 43. Device according toclaim 42, characterised in that each tube includes an extendible upperportion that can be moved coaxially with respect to tube without thepossibility of rotation and without affecting the stack of coins ortokens inside tube, each extendible upper portion including a projectionattached to a guide groove on support at a suitable height for keepingextendible upper portion in a position of maximum extension, with saidprojection being able to be attached to another guide groove associatedwith upper end stop element when said upper end stop element is in aposition of maximum lift between one angular position and the followingangular position to link the movements of extendible upper portion tothe movements of upper end stop element.
 44. Device according to claim43, characterised in that in each extendible upper portion said upperopening is defined and it comprises an outlet notch on one edge of saidupper opening that is appropriately sized to allow a coin or token topass through edgeways.
 45. Device according to claim 44, characterisedin that said means for lifting and then letting upper end stop elementdrop with respect to support, include a cam surface arrangedperimetrally around the set of tubes and a cam follower that isconnected to upper end stop element and can rest in a sliding or rollingmanner of said cam surface, which defines an elevation between eachangular position corresponding to one tube and the angular positioncorresponding to the following tube.
 46. Device according to claim 45,characterised in that the downward movement of upper end stop elementwith respect to support is gravitational.
 47. Device according to claim45, characterised in that the downward movement of upper end stopelement with respect to support is driven by the force of an elasticelement that is loaded during the upward movement.
 48. Device accordingto claim 45, characterised in that spindle is operatively connected tosaid rotary driving means for support.
 49. Device according to claim 48,characterised in that said rotary driving means are provided to rotatespindle and support in unison selectively in one rotation direction oranother.
 50. Device according to claim 49, characterised in that thethread pitch of spindle is such that nut, in a complete turn, produces amovement equal to the thickness of a coin or token.
 51. Device accordingto claim 50, characterised in that said rotary driving means include anelectric motor connected to support by a transmission, and an attachmentbetween support and spindle.
 52. Device according to claim 51,characterised in that said transmission comprises a belt or chainarranged between a driving pulley attached to the output shaft of themotor and a driven pulley attached to support coaxially vis-à-visspindle, said driven pulley including a central passage so that saidcoin or token inlet conduit extends into a section tilted downwards andoutwards, ending in an opening that can lie faced upper opening of eachtube in the different angular positions.
 53. Device according to claim51, characterised in that said transmission comprises a direct orindirect gear between a toothed driving wheel attached to the outputshaft of the motor and a toothed driven wheel attached to supportcoaxially vis-à-vis spindle, said toothed driven wheel including acentral passage so that said coin or token inlet conduit extends into asection tilted downwards and outwards, ending in an opening that can liefaced upper opening of each tube in the different angular positions. 54.Device according to claim 40, characterised in that it comprises drivingmeans dedicated to said driving action of expulsion element.
 55. Deviceaccording to claim 54, characterised in that said dedicated drivingmeans comprise an electromagnet connected to expulsion element, which isguided to move in a substantially radial direction with respect to theaxis of spindle and move the top coin or token in the stack through saidoutlet notch.
 56. Device according to claim 55, characterised in thatexpulsion element is joined to upper end stop element and both areguided to be moved together by said electromagnet.
 57. Device accordingto claim 40, characterised in that said driving action of expulsionelement is linked to said rotary driving means of support and spindle.58. Device according to claim 57, characterised in that expulsionelement includes at least one thrusting tab attached to upper end stopelement and provided to make contact on one side of the edge of the topcoin or token in the stack when mobile support rotates, and pres the topcoin or token against an oblique stationery surface on the opposite sideto slide it through said outlet notch.
 59. Device according to claim 58,characterised in that on said edge of upper opening at least one pair ofnotches are provided to allow the passage of said thrusting tab, ofwhich there is at least one.
 60. Device according to claim 43,characterised in that each extendible upper portion has next to itslower edge a series of parallel longitudinal grooves between whichfingers are defined and housed in a sliding manner in correspondingparallel longitudinal grooves, formed in the corresponding stationerypart of tube.
 61. Device according to claim 33, characterised in thatthe coin or token inlet conduit, with a downward tilted section endingin an opening that can lie faced upper opening of each tube in thedifferent angular positions, consists of a body made up of at least onepart.
 62. Device according to claim 61, characterised in that the saidtilted section also adopts a spiral configuration, with an upperreinforcement at the end of its projection.
 63. Device according toclaim 33, characterised in that each tube is made up of various modularsections provided with releasable joining means that make it possible toadapt the coin or token storage capacity by adding or removing modularsections according to the particular application.
 64. Device accordingto claim 33, characterised in that it includes sensors that detect thepassage of incoming and/or exiting coins or tokens, connected to a meterdevice.